The Next Stage (COMPLETED)

FORTY SEVEN: Game

Julia

"Can I talk to your father?"

"Do you have the rights to talk to him?" Kalmado kong tanong. Tumayo ako at hinarap siya.

"That's why I'm asking for your permission." Sabi niya. I faked a laugh. Here we go again, he's such an ass.

"Then...it's a no." Sabi ko sa kaniya. I tried to walk away but his touch caused me to stop.

"Bakit ba ang hirap mong i-please?" Malungkot niyang sabi.

"Madali lang naman. But since it's you, it's hard for me to give you what you want." Sabi ko.

He pulled his hair out of frustration. But he calm himself fast.

"Bakit? Mag ssorry ka kay Papa? Dahil sa ginawa mo sakin dati? At yung mga ginawa mo rin ngayon?" Natahimik siya. Siguro ayun yung intention niya.

"Alam mo ba...ikaw yung isa sa mga rason kung bakit kami naghiwalay? Dahil sa pagiging selfish mo. Dahil hindi ka parin maka move forward. You're still stucked." Sabi ko.

All he wanted to do was to have me back in his life again. Pero ang selfish niya. Hindi man lang niya naisip na it will ruin someone's life. And that someone is me.

Ang dami niyang ginawa para lang makuha ako ulit. Pero hindi ko kayang gawin 'yun kay Zach. Hindi ako nagpadala sa mga sinabi sakin ni Azreel dati.

Pero wala eh. Hindi nga ako nagpadala, I tried to ignore him, hurt him by my words, just to protect our relationship. Pero hindi pa pala sapat 'yun para ma protektahan yung relasyon namin.

"If I were gonna choose kung sino yung mas hindi pa nakaka-move forward satin, I won't hesitate to choose you. Heck, it's been years already! I already paid for it! I already ask for your forgiveness. I already gave up on you kasi hindi ko na kaya...hindi na kita kaya." Sabi niya habang napapailing pa. He's trying to hold back his tears.

"Right. Ilan pa bang tao ang balak gumive-up sakin? Do I even deserve this? And for your information, naka move-on na 'ko. If you're accusing me because of this attitude of mine towards yours, I'm doing this because I want to protect myself. I want you to know your limitations. Kasi baka mamaya...maging marupok nanaman ako sayo." He opened his mouth. Unexpected of what words came out from my mouth.

He grinned. "Magiging marupok sakin? O baka naman...pipiliin mo lang ako kasi gagamitin mo 'ko? Rebound? I won't settle for that."

I took a deep breath. This talk is nonsense.

"Pipiliin? Rebound? That's not in my vocabulary. Ikaw yung taong hindi dapat na pinipili." Sabi ko at naglakad na papalayo.

Kung alam ko lang sana na may mangyayaring ganito, edi sana hindi ko na siya pinigilang kausapin si Papa.

Nakakainis lang. Naiinis ako sa ugali na meron siya. I offered him friendship, pero hindi parin talaga siya tumitigil.

"Wait." He said. Humarang siya sa harap ko.

"All I want is to talk to your father, pero hindi ko inexpect na makakakuha rin ako ng masasakit na salita mula sayo." Kalmado niyang sabi.

"Time out na. Mag ssurrender na 'ko. For the last time, I just wanted to say na suko na 'ko. Hindi ko na kaya. Wala na naman kasi akong magagawa pa." Sabi niya. Then he showed his hand in front of me.

"Will you accept me again? As...a friend? Sorry sa lahat ng nasabi ko. Kalimutan na natin lahat, please. Pagod na kasi ako eh, mas lalo ka na. I promise you that I'm gonna change every negative sides of mine, para maging worthy na 'ko ng trust mo. So..." he said, waiting for me to do a handshake with him.